Metro Mayors from across England are calling on central government to give them control over a £2.4bn funding pot after Brexit.

Hosted at by the West of England Combined Authority Metro Mayor, Tim Bowles, seven of the eight Metro Mayors agreed to lobby central government for greater devolution once the UK leaves the European Union.

In particular, the group want central government to share out the newly formed £2.4billion Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) - which will replace the former EU Structural Fund, Local Growth Fund and other funding streams - with the regional heads directly.

Metro Mayors from around the UK gathered in Bristol for an M8 meeting (Image: James Beck/Freelance)

The mayors claim full devolution of the fund will decrease bureaucracy and enable the money to be spent quickly.

In joint statement issued on Tuesday October 23, the group said: “Brexit makes it essential that directly-elected regional leaders take back control of funding from central government, ensuring devolution continues to both serve and empower communities.

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“Metro Mayors represent regions which account for nearly 42 per cent of all British growth (GVA) and the role of mayors leading combined authorities provides an opportunity for government to utilise the expertise and leadership already available to grow local economies, embrace the opportunities and address the challenges facing regions.

“As the most powerful group of the directly-elected regional leaders, as a unified voice, we call on the government to grasp these opportunities to re-focus on the devolution agenda and provide regions with the powers and funding needed to ensure economic growth and prosperity.”

Metro Mayors from around the UK gathered in Bristol for an M8 meeting (Image: James Beck/Freelance)

Mr Bowles is optimistic the West of England will be resilient to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, but believes he is best placed to decide where central government funding should be spent in the region.

“Metro Mayors are directly-elected by the regions they serve - we know our regions best and need additional funding, flexibility and tools to deliver for our communities.

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“Brexit provides a real opportunity to take back control and re-think the way money flows from Whitehall to combined authorities.

“The benefits of devolution are being felt in the West of England and now is the time for government to move away from decentralisation in order to truly empower communities.”

Metro Mayors from around the UK gathered in Bristol for an M8 meeting (Image: James Beck/Freelance)

Established in 2017, the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is made up of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES) and South Gloucestershire council areas. North Somerset Council voted against joining.

Weca is led by Metro Mayor, Tim Bowles, who works with Bristol City Mayor, Marvin Rees; leader of B&NES Council, Tim Warren and leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Toby Savage.

The authority is responsible for planning, transport, skills and business portfolios.

Present at the meeting were Mr Bowles; Andy Burnham of Greater Manchester; Ben Houchen of Tees Valley; Steve Rotheram of Liverpool City Region; Andy Street of West Midlands; James Palmer of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and Dan Jarvis of Sheffield City Region.

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, wasn’t able to attend the meeting but supports the call from the Mayors.